Campervan clothing and footwear
Campervan clothing and footwear guide
What should you take? What do you need?
Our campervan experts guide you through campervan clothing choices, including tips on what to pack, maximising your storage space, doing the laundry and much more..
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Introduction to campervan clothing and footwear
© Photo courtesy of Garmin
Don't pack too much!
As with any trip, it’s important to pack the right clothes and footwear and, just like when you fly abroad and are limited by the size of your suitcase, so, too, are you limited by the amount of storage space in your campervan.
Pack a holdall
In bigger campervans, you may have bespoke wardrobes and cupboards for your clothes. In smaller campervans, however, any storage space is likely to be given over to other things, such as gadgets and gizmos. Instead, consider getting a holdall for your clothes. This is better than a suitcase because it’s soft and squashable, so is easier to pack in your campervan.
A holdall is also easy to grab for a spontaneous weekend away and can easily be brought back into the house when you get home. What you pack will depend on the time of year, where you’re going and what plans you have when you get there, but there are some basic guidelines you can follow.
Campervan clothing
© Photo courtesy of Berghaus
Think lightweight and multipurpose
Clothes that are lightweight and quick-drying are very practical. Any outdoor shop will sell a vast array of such clothing, so consider investing in a few shirts and t-shirts, as well as a couple of pairs of trousers, shorts, etc. If you get caught in a shower or need to do any laundry, specialist outdoor clothing is easy to hand wash and will dry quickly, compared with cotton garments and heavy jeans, for example.
Get fleece garments
Similarly, a good alternative to bulky jumpers is fleece tops, which come in a wide range of weights and thicknesses, with or without zips. Such clothing doesn’t need to be neatly folded, so can easily be squashed into a holdall, or rucksack when you’re out and about.
Invest in a three-in-one jacket
A versatile coat is another campervan accessory essential. A popular choice is a three-in-one jacket, which is a waterproof coat with a fleece that zips inside – both the waterproof and fleece jackets can be worn individually or as one. Another option is to buy a waterproof jacket and an insulated jacket separately. Whichever you choose, these will be easier to pack in the campervan and will perform better in the outdoors than your finest coat for a night out on the town is likely to.
Whilst you may not think you need to pack a hat and gloves unless you camp in winter, it can still get chilly in the evening when you’re camping in the great outdoors, so these are handy items to keep in your campervan, too.
Campervan footwear
© Photo courtesy of Mountain Warehouse
Crocs and flip-flops
When it comes to footwear, storage space in the campervan is likely to be very limited – especially if you’ve got a whole family to pack for, so think carefully about what you really need. For relaxing on the campsite and strolling to the facilities block, a pair of flip-flops, Crocs or similar is best. Bear in mind that grass is often wet, so opt for something made of rubber or plastic rather than leather or canvas.
Welly shoes
Campsites are often muddy places, too, so a pair of welly shoes (which take up a lot less room than welly boots) always come in handy. Footwear like welly shoes and Crocs can easily be kicked off before getting back inside your campervan, which will help to keep mud, sand, etc, outside.
Trainers and walking boots
For day-to-day wear, this really depends on you but, as a general rule of thumb, a pair of trainers (comfortable for driving and walking around town) as well as a pair of walking boots (best for general walking in the outdoors) should prove suitable for most campervanning adventures.
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